Sale's request to remove Shani from the Easter attack investigation is rejected

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has informed the court that all individuals involved in the Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks will be brought before the law before the eighth anniversary of the crime next year. This was emphasized by Additional Solicitor General, President's Counsel Dileepa Peiris, when the case related to former Head of State Intelligence Service, retired Army Major General Suresh Salley, who is currently detained and questioned by the CID under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, was called.

Fort Magistrate Isuru Nettikumara stated that all state officials, including the Army Commander and the Director of Army Intelligence, must provide full cooperation to the Attorney General for the investigations related to this incident. The Magistrate also pointed out that if there are any state officials who do not cooperate with the Attorney General for the investigations, there is a possibility of filing indictments and prosecuting them. The court further clarified that once an officer becomes a suspect, they become an individual against the state, and therefore, state institutions cannot represent them, and the Attorney General is the chief legal officer for all state institutions.

A team of officers, including the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, Senior Superintendent of Police Shani Abeysekara, and Police Inspector Mendis, submitted an eight-page report to the court detailing the progress of the investigations into the incident. The Magistrate rejected the request made by Mr. Asith Siriwardhana, counsel for Mr. Suresh Salley, to remove Mr. Shani Abeysekara from these investigations and place them under another officer or division, emphasizing that the court is satisfied with the ongoing investigations. The Magistrate reminded the investigating officers that facts presented in the administration of justice must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and if not, the victims could ultimately suffer severe disappointment, thus emphasizing that this is by no means a game.

President's Counsel Dileepa Peiris, who led the prosecution with Senior State Counsel Oswald Perera, submitted to the court that information has been revealed that the conspiracy behind this crime, which occurred in 2019, had been active since 2015. He stated that it was not merely an incident related to the killing of two police officers in Vavunathivu, and added that the path to Zahran Hashim via 'Gafur Mama' after the attack was obstructed due to this conspiracy. He also stated that information has been received about a conspiracy to hide the real perpetrators and place the blame on Tamil communities.

Statements have been recorded from 105 individuals, including Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Jayasundara, and investigations have revealed that 'Gafur Mama', who was arrested, was released without the instructions of a senior officer. Furthermore, the prosecution informed that arrangements are being made to obtain statements via 'Zoom' technology through the embassy for the protection of a person named Asad Maulana in France. The prosecution requested an order to be issued to the Army Commander and the Director of Intelligence to support the Easter attack investigations, citing past experiences where state sector provisions were used to represent Army intelligence officers every time legal action was taken against them.

Attorney Asith Siriwardhana, representing suspect Suresh Salley, stated that his client was appointed as the Director of State Intelligence in October 2019, and therefore, he was not in that position at the time of the attack. The attorney also stated that his client has no connection to the incident of transferring 79 officers related to the Easter investigation. He requested the court for medical treatment, stating that his client's mental, visual, and nutritional conditions have severely deteriorated as he is currently being held in a small room measuring 6 1/2 feet long and 4 feet wide. Furthermore, the attorney stated that Mr. Salley is ready to make a confession before the Magistrate regarding the incident.

Considering these facts, the Magistrate ordered that if a confession is desired, a request should be made on the next court date. An order was also issued to refer the suspect to mental, ophthalmology, and nutrition specialist doctors through the Judicial Medical Officer to examine his health condition. The two police officers who were in remand custody related to the incident were produced before the court by prison officials, and Mr. Suresh Salley was produced by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The CID was granted permission to further question Mr. Suresh Salley under detention orders. The court further ordered the Criminal Investigation Department to report the progress of the investigations on May 20, when the case is scheduled to be called again.